Thom returning home to join Griffins after wrapping up stellar junior career with BCHL's West Kelowna
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – With a junior experience that developed him into a well-rounded player, Garrett Thom is set to bring his versatile skill-set to the Griffins next season.
The former Southside Athletic Club, OHA Edmonton and Edmonton Junior Oilers forward will be returning home to kick off his U SPORTS career in 2026-27.
He played for four different teams in his junior career, spending 2025-26 with the BCHL's West Kelowna Warriors.
"He can do a little bit of everything, which is great," said Griffins head coach Zack Dailey. "You want well-rounded hockey players, not just one-dimensional, so that just means regardless of what role he's put in, he's going to be comfortable and able to help us win.
"You want a bunch of people who can play a bunch of different roles, so I'm very excited to have him."
After recording 41 points in 52 games as an 18-year-old with the AJHL's Camrose Kodiaks in 2024-25 – proving he has an ability to light the lamp – Thom played more in a checking role with West Kelowna this season. He managed 13 points in 54 games, primarily proving his ability in a checking role and on the penalty kill.
"Their coach loves him," said Dailey. "He raves about his character and raves about his work ethic. He's a big reason why their special teams are quite good; he's a great penalty killer. So, for us, it's an opportunity for him to help boost our penalty kill, which wasn't good enough last year. We need to get better.
"It's also just a chance for him to help our team overall with his smarts, skating and just his compete level."
The Griffins clicked at just a 71.4 per cent rate on the PK in 2025-26, which was ranked seventh out of nine Canada West teams, so there is room for improvement.
Thom grew up in the SSAC elite stream before cracking the OHA Edmonton U18 roster during his WHL draft season (2021-22). He was selected in the seventh round by Prince George in 2021, but never played for the Cougars, seeing his only WHL action during a three-game stint with the Brandon Wheat Kings in 2024-25.
After recording 29 points in 34 games as a member of the very first Junior Oilers teams in 2022-23, while also seeing a handful of call-ups to the Sherwood Park Crusaders – Thom logged 107 regular season contests with the AJHL Camrose Kodiaks over two seasons (2023-25) before his BCHL stint.
He's now leaving junior a year early to pursue U SPORTS hockey and return home. The Griffins have seen a trend of quite a few players returning to play in Edmonton once they hit university.
"A lot of guys are away from home a long time in juniors, so they're ready to be back around family," said Dailey. "Also, in university, the team's not paying for living expenses anymore, so it's always a little more convenient to be home.
"Also, it helps us bolster our alumni. When we have a bunch of guys from Edmonton who are around, hopefully they have pride in the team and want to help out even after they're finished."
